Horizontal hydraulic press for tubular articles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a horizontal hydraulic press for the manufacture of tubular articles with a cross section variable along its length, mostly drill pipes, which comprises two groups of working cylinders for moving in opposite directions the mandrel which shapes the bore of the pipe; the press is provided with at least two adjustable stops one of which limits the travel of the mandrel with relation to the die in the direction of pressing and the other one - against the direction of pressing.

United States Patent Shtin et a].

[54] HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC PRESS FOR TUBULAR ARTICLES [72] Inventors: LevMikhailovich Shtin, prospekt Ordzhonikidge, 3, kv. 49; NikolaiFeodosovich Grebnev, Kirovgradskaya, 63, kv. 18; Ljudmila SergeevnaSatovskaya, prospekt Ordzhonikidze, 3, kv. 77; Mikhail GrigorievichRasseikin, ulitsa Lomonosova, l 9, kv. 7; Sergei GrigorievichKhirdzhiev, ulitsa Mashinostroitelei, 51, kv. 38; Evgeny TitovichPerevozchikov, ulitsa Sotsialisticheskaya, 7, kv. 4; Sofia StepanovnaZagulina, ulitsa 40 ler Oktyabrya, 9, kv. 29; Vladimir Nikolaevich Duda,ulitsa Kultury, 6, kv. l5; Mikhail Andreevich Karasev, ulitsa Kalinina,66, kv. 9, all of Sverdlovsk; Ulktor Mikhailovich Rozkov, 2 Truzhennikovpereulok, 4, kv. 3; Valentin Fedorovich Shtamburg, Varshavskoe shosse,135a, korpus 4, kv. 309, both of Moscow, all of U.S.S.R.

[22] Filed: Feb. 12,1970

[2i] Appl.No.: 10,720

[52] U.S. Cl ..72/265 I9 /2 Z! If [451 May 23,1972

, 51 1111.01. "13216 23/20 [58] Field of Search 672/264, 265

[56] p References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,143,211 8/1964 Krause etal. ..72/265 1,768,866 7/1930 Summey .72/264 1,902,975 3/1933 Sparks..72/264 2,713,941 7/1955 Schuler... ...72/265 2,672,234 3/1954 13616111..72/265 Primary ExaminerCharles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Michael J.Keenan Att0rneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [5 7] ABSTRACT Thepresent invention relates to a horizontal hydraulic press for themanufacture of tubular articles with a cross section variable along itslength, mostly drill pipes, which comprises two groups of workingcylinders for moving in opposite directions the mandrel which shapes thebore of the pipe; the press is provided with at least two adjustablestops one of which limits the travel of the mandrel with relation to thedie in the direction of pressing and the other one against the directionof pressing.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC PRESS FOR TUBULARARTICLES The present invention relates to horizontal hydraulic presses,and more specifically it relates to the presses for the manufacture oftubular articles with a variable cross section along the length, mainlydrill pipes.

It is known, that such articles have external and internal bosses sothat the process of pressing involves moving the mandrel, which shapesthe inside surface of the article and fixing said mandrel rigidly indifferent working positions with respect to the die.

Known heretofore are the horizontal hydraulic presses adapted for theabove described operations, for example described in HydraulischePressen und Druckfliissigkeitsanlagen von Ernst Miiller, SpringerFerlag, Berlin (Giittingen) Heidelberg, 1959., pages 11 l-1l3 of theRussian translation, Moscow, 1962.

The mandrel (needle) shaping the internal space of the product in theknown presses passes through the ram and is fastened to the end of therod, which is connected with the working cylinders which move said rodin the direction of pressing, and with the pull-back cylinders pullingthe rod with the mandrel to the initial position after pressing.

The working position of the mandrel can be adjusted with relation to thedie by means of one adjustable stop in the form of nuts fastened onsupporting pillars and limiting the travel of the rod with the mandrelin the direction of pressing when the cross-head moved by the workingcylinders bears against said nuts.

in this case the mandrel was fixed comparatively simply and reliably inthe required position and the stop took the force acting only in thedirection of pressing.

With this design of the mandrel drive, it is practically impossible tofix the mandrel reliably with relation to the die in more than twoworking positions without stopping the press. These working positionsare ensured, in one case, by hearing the rods against their cylinders atthe end position during the idle stroke and by theadjustable stop in theother.

When it becomes necessary to perform three and more consecutive motionsof the mandrel during pressing (as, for example, is required in theproduction of drill pipes which, as a rule, have at least one externalboss and two internal ones at the ends for the thread) the process ofpressing has to be interrupted and the relieved stop must be shifted toa new position. This reduces the press output and impairs the quality ofthe pressed products. In another known horizontal press (Pat. No.1,227,858, Federal Republic of Germany) the position of the mandrel isadjusted with relation to the ram by means of an adjustable stop, whichlimits the movement of the rod with the mandrel against the direction ofpressing while the position of the mandrel with relation to thestationary die is controlled by another adjustable stop.

However, in this press the stop likewise provides only one fixedposition of the mandrel with relation to the die; in order to obtain thesecond fixed position of the mandrel one has to relieve this stop, thatis to interrupt the pressing process and readjust the stop to a newposition.

An object of the invention resides in providing a horizontal hydraulicpress with an improved drive of the rod with the mandrel said pressallowing continuous pressing of the products when fixing the mandrel inmore than two working positions with respect to the die.

Described hereunder is an improved horizontal hydraulic press for themanufacture of tubular articles with a cross section varying along itslength, mainly drill pipes, wherein the mandrel shaping the bore of thepipe passes through the ram and is secured to the rod connected to theworking cylinders which move it progressively in the direction ofpressing said press having not less than two adjustable stops, one ofwhich serves for adjusting the working position of the mandrel withrelation to the stationary die of the press and limits the movement ofthe rod with the mandrel in the direction of pressing. According to theinvention, said rod is connected with the auxiliary working cylindersmoving it against the direction of pressing while the second adjustablestop limits the travel of the rod with respect to the die against thedirection of pressing while the ram is in motion.

The provision of auxiliary working cylinders and of a second stop makesit possible, without stopping theprocess of pressing, to fix the mandrelin more than two working positions by alternative shifting of the stops.

It is desirable that the working cylinders which move the rod duringpressing should be fastened in the stationary crosshead, blind ends toeach other, and the plungers of each pair of these cylinders should befastened to the cross-heads, which are, in turn, interconnected by tierods, the working rod passing through said cross-heads and interactingwith them alternately.

Such a design increases the length of the gibs, which take the momentcreated by the eccentric application of the load of the workingcylinders moving the rod with the mandrel, and improves the directionalaccuracy of the rod movement.

In addition, it becomes possible to locate the adjustable stops betweenthe moving cross-heads, fastened to the working cylinder plungers andthe stationary cross-head, carrying said working cylinders.

The invention is also characterized in that each stop is made in theform of a bushing with external thread, freely fitted on the rod andmeshing with the nut which is rotated by the drive.

This design contributes to a central application of the load to thestops and eliminates the distortion of the movable frame, formed by theinterconnected movable cross-heads which couple the plungers of theworking cylinders in pairs.

It is practicable that a removable sleeve be located between the rearstop and the corresponding movable cross-head so as to allow the rod topass freely through said sleeve. On removing this sleeve the press canbe used on a conventional principle, without stops.

In the claimed invention the rod pull-back cylinders are formed by thespaces in the plungers of the working cylinders which move the rodagainst the direction of pressing and by the plungers accommodated inthese spaces and secured to the cross-head, which is connected to therod. This reduces the travel of the pull-back cylinders by the length ofthe mandrel working travel and decreases the total length of the press.

Besides, there is a cylinder for the idle travel of the rod in thedirection of pressing, said cylinder being formed by the space in therear end of the rod and by the plunger accommodated in said space.

Now the invention will be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings (in which):

FIGS. 1 and l (a) illustrate the horizontal hydraulic press, side view,partly sectional, according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 2 (a) show the same, top view, partly sectional.

As can be seen in FIGS 1 and 2 the claimed press has a front cross-headl carrying a die 2 which adjoins at one side a container 4 installed ina holder 3 and has a calibrated hole 5 which determines the externalsurface of the product, whose blank (not shown) is held in the container4. Located at the other side of the container 4 is a ram 6 entering thiscontainer, bearing against a packing washer 7 and fastened by an adapterbushing 8 in the cross-head 9, moved in the direction of pressing by theplunger 10 of the main cylinder 1 1 installed in the rear stationarycross-head 12. All the above-listed parts are mounted on a supportingguide frame 13 coaxially to one another.

The pressing force is taken by two parallel frames 14 via the front 1and rear 12 cross-heads resting on the cross members of said frames.

After pressing, the ram 6 is returned to the initial position bycylinders 15 secured to its cross-head l2. Auxiliary power cylinders 15amay be fastened to the same cross-head 12 in which case force created bysaid cylinders can be added to that developed by the main cylinder 1 1and transmitted to the ram 6 via the plungers of the cylinders 15 andthe cross-head 9.

The mandrel l6 shaping the internal cavity of the product passes throughthe packing washer 7 and ram 6 and is fastened to the end of the rod 17,which passes through the bushing 8 of the cross-head 9, the plunger 10of the main cylinder 11 and the stationary cross-head 18, the plunger 10being provided with a shank 19, passing through the bottom of saidcylinder 11 and sealed in it by a set of cups (constituting a gland).

Fastened by the blind backs 23 and 24 to each other on the stationarycross-head 18 connected by spindles 22 to the cross-head 12, are twopairs of working cylinders 25 and 26 one pair of which 25 moves the rod17 forward in the direction of pressing (forward stroke) while the otherpair of cylinders 26 pulls it back (return stroke).

The working cylinders 25 are connected to the rod 17 by the lock 27consisting of two plates entering a circular groove 28 of the rod 17,said lock being fastened to the cross-head 29 which is secured to theplungers 30 of the cylinders 25 and has a hole for the passage of therod 17.

The working cylinders 26, in turn, interact with the rod 17 through itsshoulder 31 which bears against a cross-head 32, secured to plungers 33of the cylinders 26 and also having a hole for the passage of the rod17.

The cross-heads 29 and 32 are interconnected by tie rods 34 thus makinga frame, which is movable with relation to a guide frame 35.

The idle motion of the mandrel 16 against the direction of pressing isensured by cylinders 36, formed by the spaces 37 in the plungers 33 ofthe cylinders 26 and by the plungers 38 accommodated in these spaces andsecured to the cross-head 39 which is connected to the rod 17.

The idle motion of the rod 17 with the mandrel 16 in the direction ofpressing is effected by the cylinder, formed by the space 40 in the rod17 and by the plunger 41 accommodated in it, said plunger bearingagainst the cross member 42, which is movable with relation to the frame43, the cross member 42 being connected by the spindles 44 to thecross-head 32.

Located between the cross-heads 29 and 18 is the adjustable stop 45limiting the travel of the rod 17 with the mandrel 16 against thedirection of pressing, while the adjustable stop 46 located between thecross-heads l8 and 32 limits the motion of the rod in the direction ofpressing. A removable sleeve 47 is located between the stops 46 andcross-head 32, the rod 17 passing freely therethrough.

Each stop is formed by a bushing 48 free-mounted on the rod 17 andhaving an external thread, meshing with the nut 49 rotated by the drive50. Said drives are installed on the cross head 18.

The mandrel 16 can be fixed in any working position with relation to thedie 2 during pressing alternately by the stops 45 and 46.

The pressing force, applied to the mandrel 16, is usually directedtowards the die 2. In this case when the mandrel 16 is fixed by the stop46 its force is transmitted to said stop through the parts 17, 31, 32and 47.

When the mandrel 16 is fixed in the same position by the stop 45, it isnecessary that the force in the working cylinders 26 be higher, thanthat applied to the mandrel 16 so that the cross-head 29 would bepressed against the stop 45. In this case the force of the mandrel 16 istransmitted to the working cylinders 26 through the parts 17, 31, 32, 33and the surplus force built up by the working cylinders 26 in comparisonwith the force applied to the mandrel 16 is transmitted to the stop 45through the parts 33, 32, 34, 29.

It may happen that the direction of the working force applied to themandrel 16 would be opposite to that just considered. Then, when themandrel 16 is fixed by the stop 45, the force will be transmitted tothis stop through the parts 17, 27, 29.

When the mandrel 16 is fixed in the same position by the stop 46, it isnecessary to build up in the working cylinders 25 a force, exceeding theforce applied to the mandrel 16 as a result of which the cross-head 32will be pressed through the removable sleeve 47 against the stop 46. Theforce will be transmitted from the mandrel 16 to the working cylinders25 through the parts 17, 27, 29, 30 and the surplus force built up bythe working cylinders 25 in comparison with the force applied to themandrel 16 will be transmitted to the stop 46 through the parts 30, 29,34, 32, 47.

When it is required to fix the mandrel 16 with relation to the die 2 inmore than two positions without stopping the production process, thepress operates as follows.

Suppose, that in order to move the mandrel 16 from the first to thesecond fixed position it is necessary to shift it forward in thedirection of pressing. Then the mandrel 16 will be fixed in the firstposition by the stop 45 irrespective of the direction of the workingforce and the stop 46 will be shifted to the second position thuscreating a clearance between this stop and the sleeve 47; this clearancewill be equal to the travel of the mandrel l6 and will be necessary forits movement from the first to the second fixed position. The mandrel 16is moved by the working cylinders 25 from the first to the secondposition, that is until the sleeve 47 comes in contact with the stop 46,which produces a clearance between the cross-head 29 and the stop 45.

If for moving the mandrel 16 to the third fixed position it is requiredto shift it back against the direction of pressing, then the stop 45relieved at the moment is moved directly to this position after whichthe working cylinders 26 shift the crosshead 29, connected to thecross-head 32, until it comes in contact with the stop 45,

When for moving the mandrel 16 from the second fixed position to thethird one it is required to move it once more forward, the stop 45relieved at the moment is shifted to the second position of the mandrel16, that is moved forward to bear against the cross-head 29.

Then the stop 46 is relieved by the working cylinder 26 and the stop 45is loaded which means that the mandrel 16 is fixed in the same secondposition, but this time by the stop 45.

Then the relieved stop 45 is moved to the third fixed position of themandrel 16, creating a clearance between the sleeve 47 and thecross-head 32, this clearance being equal to the travel of the mandrel16 from the second to the third fixed position. Further, at anappropriate moment the working cylinders 25 move the sleeve 47 until itcomes in contact with the cross-head 32, taking up the above-mentionedclearance.

When the mandrel 16 is set to the next fixed positions with relation tothe die 2, the sequence of operations is analogous to that followedduring setting to the third position.

Similarly, the positions of the mandrel 16 can be fixed successivelywith relation to the die 2 by moving the mandrel against the directionjust considered above.

When the sleeve 47 is removed, the working stroke of the mandrel 16 canbe performed in both directions by the working cylinders 25 and 26independently of the stops 45 and 46. In this case the rod 17 carryingthe mandrel 16 can be coupled to the plunger 10 of the press maincylinder 11 and the forces of the working cylinders 25 can be added tothat of the main cylinder 1 1.

These advantages of the press have been proven during its industrialtests.

We claim:

1. A horizontal hydraulic press for tubular articles each having a crosssection variable along its length, such as drill pipes, comprising: amandrel for shaping the bore of the pipe; a hollow through containeraccommodating a pipe blank; a hollow ram with said mandrel passingthrough it, located on one side of said container; power means foreffecting progressive travel of said ram; a stationary die located onthe other side of said container and having a working opening forshaping the external surface of the article as the blank is being forcedout of said container; a rod carrying said mandrel; a plurality ofworking cylinders connected to said rod and moving it in the directionof pressing; a first adjustable stop having a member interactingtherewith for limiting the movement of said rod relative to said die inthe direction of pressing; auxiliary working cylinders connected to saidrod and adapted to move it against the direction of pressing; a secondadjustable stop limiting the movement of said rod relative to said dieagainst the direction of pressing while the ram is in motion; aremovable sleeve positioned between the first adjustable stop and themember interacting with said stop; and cylinders for effecting the idletravel of the rod in both directions of movement.

2. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed in claim 1 said pressincluding at least two movable cross-heads interconnected by tie rods,wherein the working cylinders moving the rod during pressing are rigidlysecured with their cylinder bottom ends extending toward each other,said cylinders having plungers extending whereby each pair of theworking cylinders are secured by said plungers to the cross-heads andadapted to interact alternately with the rod.

3. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed in claim 1 including a drivefor said adjustable stop, each adjustable stop being made as a bushingslidably mounted on the rod and having an external thread meshing with anut which is connected to the drive.

4. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed in claim 2 wherein theadjustable stops are located between the movable cross-heads secured tothe plungers of the working cylinders and a stationary cross-headcarrying these working cylinders.

5. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed in claim 4 said removablesleeve being between the rear adjustable stop and the movable cross-headthrough which the rod passes.

6. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed in claim I wherein thecylinders for the idle travel of the rod are formed by the spaces in theplungers of the working cylinders moving the rod against the directionof pressing and by the plungers accommodated in these spaces and securedto a cross-head connected to the rod and wherein there is a cylinder forthe idle travel of the rod in the direction of pressing this cylinderbeing formed by a space in the rear end of the rod and by the plungeraccommodated in said space.

1. A horizontal hydraulic press for tubular articles each having a crosssection variable along its length, such as drill pipes, comprising: amandrel for shaping the bore of the pipe; a hollow through containeraccommodating a pipe blank; a hollow ram with said mandrel passingthrough it, located on one side of said container; power means foreffecting progressive travel of said ram; a stationary die located onthe other side of said container and having a working opening forshaping the external surface of the article as the blank is being forcedout of said container; a rod carrying said mandrel; a plurality ofworking cylinders connected to said rod and moving it in the directionof pressing; a first adjustable stop having a member interactingtherewith for limiting the movement of said rod relative to said die inthe direction of pressing; auxiliary working cylinders connected to saidrod and adapted to move it against the direction of pressing; a secondadjustable stop limiting the movement of said rod relative to said dieagainst the direction of pressing while the ram is in motion; aremovable sleeve positioned between the first adjustable stop and themember interacting with said stop; and cylinders for effecting the idletravel of the rod in both directions of movement.
 2. A horizontalhydraulic press as claimed in claim 1 said press including at least twomovable cross-heads interconnected by tie rods, wherein the workingcylinders moving the rod during pressing are rigidly secured with theircylinder bottom ends extending toward each other, said cylinders havingplungers extending whereby each pair of the working cylinders aresecured by said plungers to the cross-heads and adapted to interactalternately with the rod.
 3. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed inclaim 1 including a drive for said adjustable stop, each adjustable stopbeing made as a bushing slidably mounted on the rod and having anexternal thread meshing with a nut which is connected to the drive.
 4. Ahorizontal hydraulic press as claimed in claim 2 wherein the adjustablestops are located between the movable cross-heads secured to theplungers of the working cylinders and a stationary cross-head carryingthese working cylinders.
 5. A horizontal hydraulic press as claimed inclaim 4 said removable sleeve being between the rear adjustable stop andthe movable cross-head through which thE rod passes.
 6. A horizontalhydraulic press as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylinders for the idletravel of the rod are formed by the spaces in the plungers of theworking cylinders moving the rod against the direction of pressing andby the plungers accommodated in these spaces and secured to a cross-headconnected to the rod and wherein there is a cylinder for the idle travelof the rod in the direction of pressing this cylinder being formed by aspace in the rear end of the rod and by the plunger accommodated in saidspace.